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About Vernonia's voice. (Vernonia, OR) 2007-current | View Entire Issue (March 6, 2014)
opinion march6 2014 An Opinion: How Do We Solve the Jail Issue? By Randy Sanders Columbia County’s current jail problem is both controversial and profound. There are those who seemingly aren’t able to afford the tax needed to support the levy, I get that, these are tough times. But unless you are weak on crime and/or have a soft spot for criminals, then you too agree we absolutely need a functioning jail like any other legitimate community. If communities didn’t need to incarcerate their criminals, we would see prisoners being released, jails and prisons all over America shutting down daily to save money. I tend to look at issues like these pragmatically and without emotion. First, we must block out the name callers and screamers who spend their days parading around from meeting to meeting aroused by the sound of their own voice. You know who I mean. They make no articulate points, they bring no solutions to the table. This is exactly what is making politics dysfunctional and folks sick of the whole process. Secondly, let’s include all folks -- for or against the levy -- who are willing to come forward and help to solve the problem in a civil tone. Conservative, moderate or liberal folks are welcomed to have a seat at the table, as long as they understand the debate will remain respectful. In order to have your ideas considered, you must listen to others. Thirdly, linking this issue to the past, is irrelevant and does not solve this problem. If we miss this one, it will drive up our home owners insurance, car insurance, endanger our children, allow drunk drivers to own the streets, and more. If you cast this warning off as a “scare tactic,” then you aren’t paying attention. I am a very open-minded person and I will certainly entertain all concepts that arrive at the solution; as long as we do create a solution. Calling people names is the mark of a weak mind who cannot articulate themselves effectively. Once the frontal cortex begins to process information, it is quickly overloaded and like a garbage disposal that isn’t functioning properly, it spews out a continuous flow of putrid, lurid sewage. Thank You and So Long! By Brooke VanMeter Parting is such sweet sorrow. I’m pretty sure that those words are meant for the parting of a love affair of the heart and yet that is exactly what we have for Vernonia. In our hearts we will always love Vernonia, Oregon. I will always be a proud fourth generation Vernonian and of course Dave was “grandfathered in”, when I married him. Maybe it’s here that I express thankfulness for “adopting Dave” as a native Vernonian and especially not holding it against him that he was from New Jersey! Thank you also to all of you that supported VanMeter Construction and gave Dave the opportunity to improve your property, it was and is greatly appreciated. There are so many special, and yes, difficult times that have defined our last eight years here, it’s really hard to know where to begin. So, I will just mention a few. Thank you to the school district and parents who entrusted me to coach the Lady Loggers Volleyball team another four years. I coached a total of nine seasons of volleyball and two of basketball for Vernonia over the years and these will always be amongst my favorite memories. I never felt as proud as when I stood alongside your daughters on the gym floor and represented Vernonia High School. Probably one of Vernonia’s finest characteristics is when hard times come, the town rallies behind you. When my brother Kris passed so unexpectedly you showed up in spades. Happy Hour Mon-Fri 4-7 Lady’s Night Wed 5-12 “STILL BIKER FRIENDLY” Live Music • Specialty hamburgers • Draft beer & mixed drinks • Pool tables & satelite TV • Special live music events • Free Wi-fi Sun - Thurs 11 AM - Midnight • 733 Bridge St, Vernonia March 15 Third Member April 12 Megan James & the Intolerables April 26 Dixie Wrecked Beer & Kegs to go Fri - Sat 11 AM - 2:30 AM • 503-429-9999 Making articulate points and arriving at solutions takes skill, but that’s what this country was built on. Small, rural communities of the pioneer-past had many significant problems, but they put their minds together to find those pertinent solutions. Sure, they also had the to deal with those who had nothing constructive to contribute and festered on the excitement of seeing their names in print and hearing their opinions over others, but they were quickly cast aside and concentrated on those who were serious problem solvers. This is what we must do now. Even if you are against the current form of funding, that’s fine, your opinion is respected. If you don’t care for the levy, but express your concerns respectfully, that is good because that is where we start to negotiate. These other noise-makers and name-callers are of no help to the process. ALL smart and responsible people certainly agree we need a jail -- unless you are soft on crime and you want to reward criminals -- so let’s only focus on the constructive thinkers. 3 Publisher and Managing Editor Scott Laird 503-367-0098 scott@vernoniasvoice.com Contributors Stacey Lynn Gayle Rich-Boxman Shannon Romtvedt Sarah Rossi Randy Sanders Michal Smith Sonia Spackman Brooke VanMeter Grant Williams Brad Witt Photography Gayle Rich-Boxman Want to advertise? Have an article? Contact: scott@vernoniasvoice.com One year subscriptions (24 issues) $35 Vernonia’s Voice is published on the 1st and 3rd Thursday of each month. Vernonia’s Voice, LLC PO Box 55 Vernonia, OR 97064 503-367-0098 Randy Sanders is a photographer and blogger. He occasionally writes for Vernonia’s Voice and can be reached by email: Randy.Sanders@Live.com. www.VernoniasVoice.com THANK YOU! Watching this town come together for the greater good of its citizens... beautiful. Seeing you in action when the going gets tough is inspirational. Thank you for being “that kind of town”. Lastly, thank you for the support you gave The Old Mill House Inn during our seven years of doing business here. Once again you entrusted me with your family and friends and it was a pleasure taking care of them at our Bed and Breakfast. So, as we go to live near our daughters we will take you with us in our hearts. We will miss you but we are not going to say good bye. Because, if I have learned nothing in this life it’s that you never say never. So long Vernonia, we will see you! VERNONIA E C I V R E S PAIR E R & Warranty on all parts and labor Now offering 2 and 4 wheel alignments 58605 NEHALEM HWY. S. Next to Storage, Too 503/429/7972 Cedar Side Inn St. Patrick’s Day Corned Beef & Cabbage Open Mic Night Saturday, March 22nd Karaoke Every Friday Night Taco Tuesday from opening until 9pm 3 hardshell or 1 softshell $4.25 iheck our Facebook page for daily specials and upcoming events 756 Bridge Street, Vernonia 503-429-5841
